Speed-control device



Feb. 26, 1929. i r L. A. CHURCH swan common DEVICE Filed May 21. 1926 Attorney Patented Feb. 26, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LAWRENCE A. CHURCH, or ROCK FALLS, ILLINOIS.

SPEED-CONTROL DEVICE.

Application filed May 21, 1926. Serial No. 110,746.

This invention relates to an improved de vice which may be conveniently referred to as one which is intended to automatically control the speed of movement of an engine driven vehicle, the same having more particular reference to a device which has been especially designed for use in association with automobiles of the Ford type.

Briefly the device comprises a rotatably mounted shaft on one end of which is a pulley adapted to be driven by the engine fan belt, there being a pump on the opposite end which is associated with the usual water circulating pipe of one part of the engine block for increasing and decreasing the speed of circulation in accordance with the speed of movement of the vehicle. In addition a car buretor controlling device associated with the shaft and a governor is associated with the shaft and said control device for operating it to in turn automatically control the fuel valve of the engine carburetor.

My principal aim is to generally improve upon devices of this kind by providing one which includes novel details arranged in a novel combination such as will become'apparent from the following description and drawing.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a view showing'the complete device in section and elevation, detached from the parts of the automobile with which it is associated in practice.

Figure 2 is a section taken approximately upon the plane of the line 22 of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that the shaft is designated by reference character 1. As before stated there is a pulley 2 on one end of the shaft and on the opposite end is a bladed rotor 3 forming a water impeller to be used in the water circulating system of an automobile. This impeller is enclosed in a housing 1 of suitable configuration which is attached to the water current opening of one side of the engine block in a well known manner. In this connection it is to be stated that the usual rubber hose which is found here is temporarily disconnected and. the housing 4 is secured in place and then the hose is, in turn, attached to the flange 5 of the housing. If desired the housing is provided with an appropriate stufiing box 6.

The shaft extends through a governor casing 7 which is also provided with the bearing 8, there being a connecting web 9 between this casing 7 and the impeller housing. The end plate of the casing is provided with outstand ing lugs 10 between which the elbow of a bell crank 11 is pivotally mounted. .The upstanding arm 12 of this bell crank is formed with a fork, the furcations 13 of which straddle the portion of the shaft between the casing 7 and the housing 4. Moreover these furcations carry an anti-friction roller 14 against which the lower, end of a flat spring 15 bears. This spring is connected: at its top to a hingedly mounted leaf 16 carried by the casing and adjustable through the medium of a screw 17 to vary the tension of the flat spring.

on the-interior of the casing is a sleeve 18 keyed to the shaft and carrying the governor weight 19, the inturned portions of which bear against a slidable sleeve 20. In addition, there is a collar 21 slidably mounted on the shaft adjacent the fork of the bell crank and a thrust bearing suitably designed and interposed between the collar and the sliding sleeve 20.

In operation the device is mounted alongside of the engine block in a position to permit the usual fan belt to be trained over the pulley 2 and to permit the top housing 4 to be connected with the water return opening in the engine block. As before stated, the hose is also connected with this housing and thus the shaft 1 is simultaneously driven with the fan shaft from the belt. Normally, the fiat spring 15 presses the forked upper end of the bell crank inwardly to impart come sponding movement to the collar 21 and the I these, in turn, are pressed against the sliding sleeve 20 and the collar and force both of these elements, as a unit, against the forked end of the bell crank, thus rocking the latter upon its pivot and actuating a link 22 which is connected with the free end of the long arm of the bell. crank and with a control valve in the engine carburetor.

No doubt, by considering the description in connection with the drawings, persons familiar with devices of this class will be able to understand the construction of the same and the features of construction and advantages derived from their use. Therefore, a more lengthy description is thought unnecessary.-

While the preferred embodiment of the in vention is being shown and described, it is to be understood that minor changes coming within the field of invention claimed may resorted to, if desired.

1. In a structure of the class described, a shaft, a pulley on said shaft, a governor on said shaft, a casing for said governor, a bell crank, means for pivotally supporting the bell crank, one arm of the bell crank being provided with a fork, and the bifurcations of said fork straddling said shaft, a roller journalled between the fin-cations, spring means engaging the roller for moving the bell crank in one direction, and means slidably mounted on the shaft between the fork and the governor and operable by the governor for moving the bell crank in a direction against the action of said spring.

2. In a structure of the class described, a shaft, a pulley on the shaft, a governor on the shaft, lcasing for said governor, a bell crank, means for pivotally sup-porting the bell. crank, one arm of the bell crank being provided with a for; and the furcations of said fork straddling said shaft, a roller journaled between the furcations, a bracket hing-- edly mounted at one end on the casing, means for holding the free end of the bracket in different positions with respect to the casing, a leaf spring having one end fixed to the bracket and curved to extend downwardly for engaging the roller to move the bell crank in one direction, and means slidably mounted on the shaft between the fork and the governor and operated by the governor or moving the bell crank in a direction against the action of the spring.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

LAWRENCE A. CHURCH. 

